IAN WOOSNAM will make his 17th appearance in golf's World Cup this week - after agreeing to step in for flu victim Phillip Price.

Woosnam was contacted on holiday in Barbados to say Price had pulled out of the US$4m event at Kiawah Island in South Carolina on his return from the Seve Trophy in Spain.

The former Masters champion, who made his debut in the tournament in 1980, will partner Bradley Dredge, with whom he finished 12th in Mexico last December.

Thomas Bjorn has also scratched from Denmark's side because of his neck injury and Soren Kjeldsen will be joined instead by last year's Volvo PGA champion Anders Hansen.

Price did not play at all at El Saler on Saturday and then lost four and three to Sergio Garcia in Sunday's singles as Britain and Ireland won 15-13.

Bjorn suffered his injury just before his game with Paul Casey and withdrew.

First prize this weekend is US$500,000 per man. Woosnam won with David Llewellyn in Hawaii in 1987, beating Sam Torrance and Sandy Lyle in a play-off, and was individual champion that year and again in 1991.

Scotland are represented this time by Paul Lawrie and Alastair Forsyth, England by Casey and Justin Rose and Ireland by Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley, who won the title on the same course six years ago.

Harrington, who was part of the Britain and Ireland team, did not have celebrations on his mind as he headed out of Spain before flying to South Carolina.

The reason for that was a dispute with Jose Maria Olazabal in what proved to be the decisive singles of the Seve Trophy.

The two highly-respected and hugely popular professionals, Ryder Cup team-mates in 1999, were on the third green when Olazabal pointed to what he thought were pitch marks.

He was allowed to repair them if they were. Harrington had his doubts and thought a referee was needed. But as he turned to look for the official, Olazabal started his repair work - and when Harrington spoke to him the Spanish star conceded the hole.

There was a stony silence between the two as the match progressed. But after Harrington birdied the last for a half, the pair spent 15 minutes talking beside the green and at the end of it still appeared to be at loggerheads.